The Excellent Grief

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لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ٢١

Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.

[Al-Quran 33:21, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ فِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَءَٰٓؤُا۟ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ٤

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allâh Alone" - except the saying of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) to his father: "Verily, I will ask forgiveness (from Allâh) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allâh.[1]" Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return.

[1](V.4) See the Qur’ân Verses (Verse 9:114), (Verse 19:41-49) and (Verse 26:70-86)

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٥

"Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيهِمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ ٦

Certainly, there has been in them an excellent example for you to follow - for those who look forward to (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day. And whosoever turns away, then verily, Allâh is Rich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all Praise.

[Al-Quran 60:4-6, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]

The term اُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ occurs twice in Surah al-Mumtahhina (the (woman) to be examined), and once in Surah al-Ahzaab (the confederates) where it states that in Allah's Messenger is an excellent example (Q33:21), (Q60:4-6). 

Q33:21 is about the example in Messenger of Allah (Muhammad ﷺ). 

Q60:4-6 is about the example in Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام). 

The term اُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ begins with the word اُسۡوَةٌ , which shares the root أ س و forming words meaning grieve: 

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Both Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and Muhammad ﷺ strove for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى , migrated, and fought many wars for Allah's Deen, eventually purifying Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's ancient house and the masjid around it.   

Both of them were very concerned about everyone, praying for them, preaching to them, taking care of whom they could, and valiantly fighting the forces of evil when necessary. 

We need to understand and appreciate that the lives of these great people were not without challenges and grief. They had many reasons to grieve. They suffered personal loss of dear family members. They suffered rejection and humiliation from the leaders and their nations. Yet, they remained steadfast in the service of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى , focussing on their mission and doing all it took to fulfil their mission. 

Surah al-Ahzaab (the confederates) is about Messenger of Allah (Muhammad ﷺ) and his companions fighting battles for the sake of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى .  

Surah Surah al-Mumtahhina (the (woman) to be examined) is about examining the faith of the women migrating away from the disbelievers and coming to the Muslims for refuge. 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's Deen is about rights. It is Deen-e-Haqq. It is Deen-e-Qayyim. It is about helping the human family. It is about Iman and Amanat. Faith, trust, security, dependability, and recompense are all linked to each other. 

We should grieve for all humans, and that grief should manifest itself in trying to save our self and everyone else. We need to be Muslims our self first, following the guidance in The Quran, on how to invite others. We all need to personally choose to be saved from the eternal fire of hell. We cannot force others, but we must reach out and preach, within the limits prescribed for each one. 

When our forefather Adam was in the Garden, he was able to see and hear Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. In our present state, we are unable to see or hear Allah ﷻ . In the Hereafter, Allah  ﷻ will only allow the successful believers to see Him. As each one longs to return to the Gardens of Eternity, we also hope to be able to see our Rabb عزوجل . Like Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and Muhammad ﷺ , we also need to remember Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى much, modelling our lives on their excellent grief. 

In The Quran, we read about means of nearness to Allah ﷻ , and we read about how well-pleased He ﷻ is with the companions of  Muhammad ﷺ : 

وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـٰتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٰتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌۭ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٩٩

And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, and look upon what they spend in Allâh’s Cause as means of nearness to Allâh, and a cause of receiving the Messenger’s invocations. Indeed these (spendings in Allâh’s Cause) are a means of nearness for them. Allâh will admit them to His Mercy. Certainly Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ١٠٠

And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn ) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.

[Al-Quran 9:99-100, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]

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Last updated on: October 26, 2024

Dr Zakir Naik's visit to Pakistan

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ٣٣

And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh’s (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ ٣٤

The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger,[2] and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.

وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍۢ ٣٥

But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient - and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and of a high moral character) in this world.

[Al-Quran 41:33-35, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan]

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Dr Zakir Naik recently visited Pakistan on the invitation of the State of Pakistan. From his first few interviews, it became amply clear that he was a man who spoke his mind. He raised many important points, and his interactions with the public exposed many problems in our society. 

Among the first few interviews, he is on record as saying that most Muslims think they are Muslims, yet they practice 5% only. I don't know about the percentage of Quran and Sunnah that most Muslims practice, but yes, in today's world, there is no country which can claim that it is on Allah's Deen. Politically, and personally, we need to rethink, restudy, reexamine our submission in Islam. 

When questioned about the Palestinian issue, and our role it it, Dr Zakir Naik pointed out the lack of regularity of individuals who go for five daily prayers to the mosques. He was of the opinion that how can they champion Muslim causes when they can't even show up in the mosques for all the prayers. Now that is certainly something to think about. 

Then there was this question about a city where the culture is conservative, the people observing the religion are practicing, men regularly praying in mosques, and women keeping themselves at home as far as possible; yet crimes are also flourishing in that society. Dr Zakir Naik protected the honour of those practicing Muslims, pointing out that practicing Muslims cannot commit the crimes that were mentioned by the questioner. This question exposes the two extremes in our society: the pious and the criminals. These two kinds of people co-exist in our society. If the Deen and Shariah were enforced in our country by the State, such crimes would be punishable by Law, and thus the incidence of crimes would drastically go down. 

There were a number of questions, and reactions to the answers in the social media. Two observations: 

• Firstly, we need to understand that Allah's Deen is about rights and protection of rights. It grants protection to the weak and oppressed, particularly women and children, and in doing so, builds a decent society, where the challenges to the family are minimised. Both men and women must understand their roles and responsibilities in building such an ideal society. Submission to Allah's Deen is the meaning of the word Islam. 
• Secondly, the reactions reveal our mindset. 

Like every human on this planet, Dr Zakir Naik is also human. He has his own opinions, and we may or may not agree with some or most of what he says. Nevertheless, he is a person who invites people to Islam, and who is better in speech than one who invites to Islam, and says that he is a Muslim? 

May Allah grant us all the goodness to submit in Islam, invite to Islam, and have utmost respect for all who are serving Allah's Deen. 

May the Deen be established in Pakistan. May Allah grant us the insights to realise the beauty of Allah's Deen. May Allah grant us willing submission. 

إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْفَتْحُ ١

When there comes the Help of Allâh (to you, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah).

وَرَأَيْتَ ٱلنَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًۭا ٢

And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islâm) in crowds.

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ تَوَّابًۢا ٣

So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives. 

[Al-Quran 110:1-3, Translation: Al-Hilali & Khan] 

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